Shipping container with reusable closure flap



y 8, 1964 R. M. DAVIS 3,142,432

SHIPPING CONTAINER WITH REUSABLE CLOSURE FLAP Filed July 23, 1962 auL3,142,432 Patented July 28, 1964 3,142,432 SHIPPHJG CONTAINER WITHREUSABLE CLOSURE FLAP Ralph M. Davis, Fullerton, Calif., assignor toContainer Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofDelaware Filed July 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,500 Claims. Cl. 229-38) Thisinvention relates to paperboard shipping containers, and moreparticularly to a shipping container having a top closure arrangementwhich may be readily opened and reclosed as desired.

As is well known in the art, most conventional shipping containers areprovided with top closure flaps which are adhesively secured to eachother in overlapped relationtom closure flaps 24 may be hingedlyattached to the lower edges of end wall panels 12 along hinge lines 26.The bottom closure flaps may be overlapped and secured to each other ina conventional manner when the container is erected.

The closure arrangement for the top of the container includes a pair ofinner closure flaps 30 which may be ship in such a manner that thecontainer may not be opened without destroying or at least damaging theoriginal closure arrangement.

In many instances, such as in the shipment of fruit, it is necessary ordesirable to provide a means whereby a portion of the container may beopened to permit an examination of the contents.

It is therefore an object of this arrangement to provide a shippingcontainer having a top closure flap which may be readily withdrawn andreinserted when it is desired to inspect the contents of the container.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a container of thetype described, of an arrangement wherein only one of the inner topclosure flaps is secured to the outer closure flaps, with other innerclosure fiap being free for insertion under the secured closure flap.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a containerof the type described, wherein the outer closure, or retaining flaps,are cut from panels hinged to the side walls of the container so thatthe remaining portions of the panels may be folded into the carton toprovide a two-ply construction for the side walls.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from anexamination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying features of theinvention, with one of the closure flaps shown in an open position;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken on line 22 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE2; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the containerillustrated in other views may be formed.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elementshave been intentionally omitted from certain views where they areillustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of theinvention, it will be seen that the container illustrated in FIGURE 1may be formed from a unitary blank B illustrated in FIGURE 4.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the body of the container includes a pair ofopposed outer side wall panels 10 and a pair of opposed end wall panels12 hingedly attached at their opposite edges to the respective outerside wall panels along parallel hinge lines 14. Additionally anattaching flap 16 may be hinged to one of the outer side wall panels 10along a hinge line 16 which is parallel to the hinge line 12 so as toprovide a generally tubular structure, with the attaching flap 16 beingsecured to the end wall panel 12 at the opposite end of the blank in anydesired manner, such as by gluing, stitching or the like.

A pair of side wall bottom closure flaps 20 may be hingedly attached tothe lower edges of outer side wall panels 10 along hinge line 22, and apair of end wall bothingedly attached to the upper edges of respectiveend wall panels12 along hinge lines 32. Hingedly attached to the upperedges of respective outer side wall panels 10 along hinge lines 36 are apair of opposed inner side wall panels 34 preferably formed from doublescore lines. Hinge lines 32 and 36 are preferably formed by double scorelines because of the thickness of the material normally used in thistype of container, namely, corrugated or solid fibre paperboard.

Also hinged to the upper edges of outer side wall panels 10 along thesame hinge lines 36 are a pair of outer top closure or retaining flaps40, which may be cut out of the material of the inner side wall panels34 as shown at 42. When inner side wall panels 34 are folded 180 downinto the box in a vertical position in generally parallel relation withouter side wall panels 10, to provide a double ply construction for theside walls, retaining flaps 40 are folded only to a horizontal position,as shown in FIGURE 1.

In order to close the top of the container, inner top closure flaps 30are folded 90 downward into a horizontal position with the free endportion 46 of right hand closure flap 30 overlapping the free endportion 48 of left hand closure flap 30, as shown in FIGURE 2.

After closure flaps 30 have been folded into horizontal, overlappedposition, retaining flaps 40 may be folded downwardly 90 into a positionwhere they overlie the uppermost top closure flap (right hand closureflap 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 2) and may be rigidly secured theretoin any desired manner, such as by means of the adhesive indicated at 50.

In this novel closure arrangement, the lowermost or unsecured closureflap (left hand closure flap 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 2) may bewithdrawn by pulling its free end portion 48 out from under the free endportion 46 of the other closure flap. Thus, this arrangement will permitthe examination of the contents of the container even after the top hasbeen closed and sealed. In order to eifect reclosure, end portion 48 ofthe flap is merely reinserted under end portion 46 of the opposingclosure flap. It is not absolutely necessary the end portions of flaps30 overlap each other. They could be formed to meet centrally of thecontainer top. In this arrangement (not shown) retaining flaps wouldcover the ends of both closure flaps, but would only be secured to oneof them.

It will be understood that forming hinge lines 32 and 36 by double scorelines really serves two purposes. First, it facilitate bending of theflaps, because of the thickness of the material employed; and second, itprovides a slight additional amount of play in the unsecured closureflap to facilitate the withdrawal and reinsertion of the flap foropening and reclosing the container.

I claim:

1. A reclosable container formed from a unitary blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed outer side wall panels;

(b) a pair of opposed end wall panels having opposite side edges hingedto respective outer side wall panels to define a tubular structure;

(0) bottom closure flaps hinged to lower edges of certain of said wallpanels;

(at) a pair of opposed top closure flaps hinged to upper edges of saidend wall panels and extending horizontally inward to close the top ofthe container;

(2) said top closure flaps having free end portions disposed inoverlapped relation;

(1) a pair of inner side Wall panels operatively connected to upperportions of respective outer side wall panels and extending into thecontainer in substantially parallel relation with respective outer sidewall panels;

(g) a pair of retaining flaps cut from medial portions of respectiveinner side wall panels;

(It) said retaining flaps extending horizontally inward over the endportion of one of the top closure flaps; and

(i) means for rigidly securing said retaining flaps to opposite sides ofthe end portion of said one top closure fiap;

(j) the end portion of the other top closure flap being free fromconnection to said retaining flaps, so that it can be removably insertedunder the corresponding end portion of said one top closure flap.

2. A reclosable container formed from a unitary blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed outer side wall panels;

(b) a pair of opposed end wall panels having opposite side edges hingedto respective outer side wall panels to define a tubular structure;

(c) bottom closure flaps hinged to lower edges of certain of said wallpanels;

(d) a pair of opposed top closure flaps hinged to upper edges of saidend wall panels and extending horizontally inward to close the top ofthe container;

(2) a pair of inner side wall panels operatively connected to upperportions of respective outer side wall panels and extending into thecontainer in substantially parallel relation with respective outer sidewall panels;

(1) a pair of retaining flaps cut from medial portions of respectiveinner side wall panels;

(g) said retaining flaps extending horizontally inward over an endportion of one of the top closure flaps; and

(11) means for rigidly securing said retaining flaps to opposite sidesof the end portion of said one top closure flap;

(i) an end portion of the other top closure flap being free fromconnection to said retaining flaps, so that it can be removably insertedunder said retaining flaps.

3. A reclosable container formed from a unitary blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed outer side wall panels;

(b) a pair of opposed end wall panels having opposite side edges hingedto respective outer side Wall panels to define a tubular structure;

() a pair of opposed top closure flaps hinged to upper edges of said endwall panels and extending horizontally inward to close the top of thecontainer;

(d) a pair of inner side wall panels operatively connected to upperportions of respective outer side wall panels and extending into thecontainer in substantially parallel relation with respective outer sidewall panels;

(e) a pair of retaining flaps cut from medial portions of respectiveinner sidewall panels;

(f) said retaining flaps extending horizontally inward over an endportion of one of the top closure flaps; and

(g) means for rigidly securing said retaining flaps to opposite sides ofthe end portion of said one top closure flap;

(h) an end portion of the other top closure flap being free fromconnection to said retaining flaps, so that it can be removably insertedunder said retaining flaps.

4. A reclosable container formed from a unitary blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed side wall panels;

(b) a pair of opposed end wall panels having opposite side edges hingedto respective side wall panels to define a tubular structure;

(0) a pair of opposed top closure flaps hinged to upper edges of saidend wall panels and extending horizontally inward to close the top ofthe container;

((1) said top closure flaps having free end portions disposed inoverlapped relation;

(e) a pair of retaining flaps hinged to upper edges of medial portionsof respective side wall panels;

(f) said retaining flaps extending horizontally inward over the endportion of one of the top closure flaps; and

(g) said retaining flaps having portions adhesively secured to oppositesides of the end portion of said one top closure flap;

(h) the end portion of the other top closure flap being free fromconnection to said one top closure flap and said retaining flaps, sothat it can be removably inserted under the corresponding end portion ofsaid one top closure flap.

5. A reclosable container formed from a unitary blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed side wall panels;

(b) a pair of opposed end wall panels having opposite side edges hingedto respective side wall panels to define a tubular structure;

(0) a pair of opposed top closure flaps hinged to upper edges of caidend wall panels and extending horizontally inward to close the top ofthe container;

(d) a pair of retaining flaps hinged to upper edges of medial portionsof respective side wall panels;

(e) said retaining flaps extending horizontally inward over an endportion of one of the top closure flaps; and

(f) said retaining flaps having portions rigidly secured to oppositesides of the end portion of said one top closure flap;

(g) an end portion of the other top closure flap being free fromconnection to said one top closure flap and said retaining flaps, sothat it can be removably inserted under said retaining flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS325,757 Merrill Sept. 8, 1885 937,173 Pfeitfer Oct. 19, 1909 2,205,068Potter June 18, 1940 2,712,894 Paxton July 12, 1955

1. A RECLOSABLE CONTAINER FORMED FROM A UNITARY BLANK OF FOLDABLEPAPERBOARD, COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF OPPOSED OUTER SIDE WALL PANELS;(B) A PAIR OF OPPOSED END WALL PANELS HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES HINGEDTO RESPECTIVE OUTER SIDE WALL PANELS TO DEFINE A TUBULAR STRUCTURE; (C)BOTTOM CLOSURE FLAPS HINGED TO LOWER EDGES OF CERTAIN OF SAID WALLPANELS; (D) A PAIR OF OPPOSED TOP CLOSURE FLAPS HINGED TO UPPER EDGES OFSAID END WALL PANELS AND EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY INWARD TO CLOSE THE TOPOF THE CONTAINER; (E) SAID TOP CLOSURE FLAPS HAVING FREE END PORTIONSDISPOSED IN OVERLAPPED RELATION; (F) A PAIR OF INNER SIDE WALL PANELSOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO UPPER PORTIONS OF RESPECTIVE OUTER SIDE WALLPANELS AND EXTENDING INTO CONTAINER IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONWITH RESPECTIVE OUTER SIDE WALL PANELS; (G) A PAIR OF RETAINING FLAPSCUT FROM MEDIAL PORTIONS OF RESPECTIVE INNER SIDE WALL PANELS; (H) SAIDRETAINING FLAPS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY INWARD OVER THE END PORTION OFONE OF THE TOP CLOSURE FLAPS; AND (I) MEANS FOR RIGIDLY SECURING SAIDRETAINING FLAPS TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE END PORTION OF SAID ONE TOPCLOSURE FLAP; (J) THE END PORTION OF THE OTHER TOP CLOSURE FLAP BEINGFREE FROM CONNECTION TO SAID RETAINING FLAPS, SO THAT IT CAN BEREMOVABLY INSERTED UNDER THE CORRESPONDING END PORTION OF SAID ONE TOPCLOSURE FLAP.